All weekend
LONDON PIANO FESTIVAL: Kings Place hosts London Piano Festival, a celebration of the musical instrument. Whether you're familiar with the ivories yourself or just enjoying hearing others play, the programme covers several aspects of the piano, including a jazz performance, lecture-recitals, and a two-piano marathon. Kings Place (King's Cross), various prices, book ahead, 2-6 October
FRIEZE LONDON: Art fair Frieze London is in town this week, which means the whole of the London art scene ramps up a notch, with industry experts from all over the world. Frieze London and Frieze Masters, the main events, bring together 160 global galleries showcasing work by 1,000 artists, plus a programme of talks and other events. Regent’s Park, £38.70, book ahead, 3-6 October
AFRICAN ART FAIR: Browse the work of 150 artists from Africa and its diaspora, represented by 45 galleries. The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair covers a range of disciplines, from established and new artists. Somerset House, £25, book ahead, 3-6 October
CAKE AND BAKE SHOW: Want to live out your GBBO dreams but don't know where to start? Head to The Cake and Bake Show for all manner of culinary inspiration, and not a soggy bottom in sight. Browse stalls including established bakeries, cookware products and ingredients, and watch demos and presentations by the likes of Rosemary Shrager, Candice Brown, and Londonist favourites Cutter & Squidge. ExCel, £14/£12, book ahead, 4-6 October
LONDON COCKTAIL WEEK: One of the biggest events in London’s boozy calendar (and that’s saying something), London Cocktail Week has participating bars all over town. Buy yourself a Cocktail Pass — which gets you special £6 cocktails, and access to the Cocktail Village on Brick Lane — and look out for other special events going on around town. Various locations, book £10 Cocktail Pass in advance, 4-13 October
REMBRANDT’S LIGHT: Dulwich Picture Gallery opens a new exhibition dedicated to works by Dutch painter Rembrandt. Rembrandt’s Light showcases 35 of his paintings, etchings and sketches dating back 350 years which show off his exemplary use of light. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £16.50, book ahead, 4 October-2 February
FUN PALACES: For one weekend a year, various London venues transform into Fun Palaces — free, family-friendly celebrations of culture, art, science and sport. Browse the map to find events taking place near you — you may even be able to visit a few of them throughout the weekend. Highlights include a giant planetarium at ArtsDepot. Various locations, 5-6 October
CRAFTY FOX: Cushions, jewellery, prints, embroidery and skincare are some of the artworks being sold direct from the makers at this month's Crafty Fox Market. The curated line-up changes each time, so even if you've been before, there's always something new to see. Paper lantern and embroidery workshops run alongside the market. Mercato Metropolitano (Elephant & Castle), free, just turn up, 5-6 October
SHIP OF TOLERANCE: Last chance to see the Ship of Tolerance, a colourful vessel that was part of Totally Thames festival. The art project — a 60-foot long, hand-crafted wooden ship — has sails made by children from 40 London primary schools, Great Ormond Street Hospital and refugee centres in Birmingham, Leeds, Peterborough and Calais. Outside Tate Modern, free, just turn up, until 6 October
THABISO SEKGALA: Last chance to see Thabiso Sekgala's exhibition, Here Is Elsewhere. It highlights 50 works by the late South African photographer, taken between 2009-2014 in South Africa, Jordan and Germany, with themes of home, intimacy, place and belonging. Hayward Gallery (Southbank Centre), free, just turn up, until 6 October
Saturday 5 October
SPANISH BOOK FAIR: A wide range of authors and publishers come together for the London Spanish Book & Zine Fair. Stock up on literature written in the Spanish language, attend talks, workshops, activities and signings, and meet fellow Spanish or bilingual book lovers. The Crypt at St Peter's (Walworth), free entry (donations welcome), book ahead, 4-5 October
IT'S ALL ACADEMIC: UCL invites the public behind the scenes at free one-day festival, It's All Academic. Quiz the university's academics, take part in hands-on activities and experiments, and attend walks and talks on themes including women of Bloomsbury, and the geology of the university's buildings. UCL, free, book ahead, 10am-4pm
DEATH ROW: Damon Thibodeaux spent 15 years on death row, having been wrongfully convicted for the murder of his cousin when he was 22 years old. Today, he's at Amnesty's HQ to talk about his experiences as part of the LifeLines Conference. Hear Thibodeaux tell his story, followed by a Q&A session. Amnesty International (Shoreditch), £22.15, book ahead, 11am-3.30pm
CEMETERY STORYTELLING: Join Vanessa Woolf of London Dreamtime for a free, family-friendly storytelling session in one of London's Magnificent Seven cemeteries. Hear a mysterious tale of ancient Egyptian magic and a secret time machine hidden inside a Victorian tomb on a walk through the cemetery aimed at those aged 6+. Brompton Cemetery, free, book ahead, 11.30am
BOOB BRUNCH: As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Slug & Lettuce hosts a special brunch, with funds raised going to CoppaFeel. Tuck into a brunch dish, hot drinks and cocktails while you listen to inspirational talks. Slug & Lettuce (Tower Bridge), £6, book ahead, 11.30am
FETISH COLLECTIONS: Bishopsgate Institute is home to a great many wonderful items and records, but did you know about its fetish collection? It holds a free open day for the UK Leather and Fetish Archive, a national collection documenting the history and heritage of the leather, rubber, BDSM and fetish communities. Browse magazines, pamphlets, posters, ephemera, t-shirts and artefacts related to the topic. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), free, just turn up, 1pm
DUMBO: Take the kids to a screening of this year's remake of Dumbo, and learn some circus skills before the film. Performer Matiss Duhon leads the workshop and offers a free performance before you settle down to watch Tim Burton's interpretation of the famous elephant. Harris Academy South Norwood, £5, book ahead, 1pm-4pm
SCIENCE HEROES: Tour guide and Londonist contributor Laurence Scales leads a guided walk around Wimbledon, focusing on the history of science, technology and medicine in the vicinity. Drains, astronomy, pathology and clocks are some of the topics covered. Copse Hill (Wimbledon), £11.06, book ahead, 2.30pm-5pm
SIZZLING HOT CIRCUS: Sizzling Hot Circus return to east London for another performance of cabaret, dance, floor acts and aerial acrobatics, performed by an international cast. Hoxton Hall, from £14.50, book ahead, 8pm
Sunday 6 October
HARRY POTTER BOAT RIDE: Calling all Harry Potter fans! Combine a cinematic experience exploring the London locations linked to the Boy Wizard with a boat trip down the Thames. Begin with a two-hour walking tour laced with trivia, facts and reenactments, then hop on a boat and cruise down the Thames, following the route taken by Harry and co on their broomsticks. Romilly Street (Soho), £38/£35, book ahead, 10am-12.30pm (sponsor)
APPLE DAY: Fulham Palace's annual apple day is a celebration of the fruit provided by the site's orchard. Apple-themed displays, tastings, live music, storytelling, a baking competition and children's activities are available throughout the event.Fulham Palace, free, just turn up, 11am-3pm
VINTAGE FASHION: Rummage through rails of retro clobber at the Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair. Over 60 vintage fashion dealers set up stall, with items dating from the 1900s onwards. Clothing from the likes of Chanel and Biba has been on sale at past events, as well as more affordable pieces. Chelsea Old Town Hall, £4, book ahead, 11am-5.30pm
RECORD FAIR: Go for a spin around Hackney Record Fair and see what vinyl-based bargains you can hunt out. Independent labels, record vendors and hifi dealers are all present, and the event welcomes both avid collectors or vinyl newbies. Abney Public Hall (Stoke Newington), £2, just turn up, 11am-6pm
FUNGI FEST: There's not mushroom for error if you want to get the most out of Fungi Fest 2019. The one-day event has a packed programme celebrating the humble fungi, including talks by foragers, scientists, artists and entrepreneurs, workshops about growing your own mushrooms, and a market featuring food dishes from several cultures, all containing... yep, mushrooms. 55 Laburnum Street (Haggerston), £42, book ahead, 11am-8pm
50 YEARS IN A DAY: Join four generations of musicians for an epic celebration of classical music at Southbank Centre. With the repertoire ranging from old favourites like Tchaikovsky and Chopin, to more contemporary compositions by Birtwistle and Piazzolla, this electric trio of concerts is the ideal introduction to the genre — while there's plenty to keep classical music aficionados happy too. Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre (Waterloo), from £12, book ahead, from 12pm (sponsor)
PIRATE CRUNCHER: Take the kids to a performance of The Pirate Cruncher, a theatre show aimed at ages 4+. Adapted from a picture book, it’s a comically gruesome tale of pirates, monsters and one small girl. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), from £9, book ahead, 11am/2pm
CONKER CHAMPSIONSHIPS: Have you got what it takes to be crowned champion of this oh-so-British sport? Almost 400 people have taken part in the Hampstead Heath conker championships in past years, spread across four categories (under 5s, 5-7 year olds, 8-13 year olds, 14-17 year olds and 18s and over) and overseen by an official conkermeister. Parliament Hill bandstand (Hampstead Heath), free, just turn up by 2.30pm to enter
JOE MCELDERRY: Singer and former X-Factor contestant Joe McElderry headines today’s Sunday Favourites show. He celebrates a decade in the music industry with a performance of tracks from his albums, and from the West End shows he’s appeared in. The Other Palace (Victoria), £34.50, book ahead, 5pm
MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS: A charity consisting of 75 choirs and 2,300 members in British military bases across the world, the Military Wives Choirs perform live in Chelsea, at an evening on the theme 'remember', the title of their new album. Accompanied by soprano Laura Wright, they sing songs including Owain Park’s The Poppy Red. Cadogan Hall (Chelsea), £6.50-£20.50, book ahead, 6.30pm
CELESTE NG: Bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You, Celeste Ng makes her first London appearance to discuss her successful novels. She talks about the process of creating her characters, which have been applauded for offering compelling portraits of modern American life. Southbank Centre, £15-£25, book ahead, 7.30pm
STEVIE WONDER TRIBUTE: Saxophonist Derek Nash and singer Noel McCalla come together to celebrate the work of Stevie Wonder in a one-off gig. The UK-based duo perform a setlist of singer-songwriter Wonder's greatest hits, in one of London's best-loved jazz clubs. 606 Club (Chelsea), £12, book ahead, 8.30pm
